The salvation of sinners was a work greater than the making of the world. The powerful word commanded, and the universe sprung up into being; but much more was to be done ere a sinner could be saved from wrath. The eternal Son of God must become man, lay aside the robes of his glory, and clothe himself with the infirmities of human nature, and in that nature purchase redemption by the price of his matchless blood for poor miserable prisoners, and deliver them from the pit of hell and wrath by an exertion of his almighty power... Gods love is exalted here, in that he freely sent his only begotten Son to be the Redeemer of an elect world. He was Gods free gift, or else he could never have been obtained. If devils and men had joined their forces, and combined all their strength and power, and thus made an assault upon heaven, yet they could never have plucked the Son of Gods love from his eternal embraces. God gave Christ freely to redeem a sinful world, not only without, but against all merit and desert in them, nay, unasked and unsolicited to do so. From all eternity God foresaw that they would despise and reject his son, so that they would shed his precious blood, and then trample it under their feet, as an unholy thing; yet such was the height of his astonishing love, that he bestowed him freely upon them. See the matchless love of the Son of God to poor sinners. It was love that induced him to substitute himself in their place, and to undertake to pay their ransom. He loved me (says Paul), and gave himself for me, (Gal 2:20). This redemption of elect souls was agreed upon by the Father and the Son in the covenant of grace from eternity. It was first proclaimed to fallen man in the first promise, that the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15); it was shadowed forth under the Old Testament by sacrifices, burnt-offerings etc; the price was actually paid on the cross, when he made peace through the blood thereof (Col 1:20); and the powerful delivery is made in the conversion of the elect, the day of Gods power, when the captives are delivered, their chains knocked off, and they are rescued from the miserable bondage in which they lay. And although Christs blood was not actually shed under the Old Testament, yet the elect, during that dispensation were delivered by the same redemption which we are now partakers of, (Heb 11:39,40)...Thomas Boston reformation-scotland.org.uk/articles/christ-the-redeemer.html
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:13:10 +0000
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